I am admittedly not a fan of bus tours. I usually find them too impersonal and too tied into the mainstream itineraries. But when I saw an ad for a ninja and samurai themed bus tour in my favorite Tokyo neighborhood of Asakusa, I knew we had to give it a whirl on our trip... Continue Reading →
Experience: Mokuhankan Ukiyo-e Workshop
I first heard of David Bull a few years ago, when I stumbled across the Ukiyo-e Heroes website of Jed Henry. Jed took modern video game characters, placed them in traditional Japanese settings and sent his pictures off to David in Tokyo to be made into woodblock prints. David took the process through the complicated... Continue Reading →
Crash Course: Tori no Ichi
October has barely started and I am already thinking about the end of the year. A quick glance at the calendar this week reminded me that the Tori no Ichi rake fairs are coming up in just a few weeks. Tori no ichi (rake fairs) are, as far as I am aware, nationwide celebrations though... Continue Reading →
Better Know a Neighborhood: Asakusa (Tokyo)
I love Asakusa. I know, I know, it’s one of Tokyo’s most touristed neighborhoods, but somehow that only adds to the appeal. The city’s oldest temple, the city’s newest (and tallest) building, tasty treats from the Edo era and a host of little secrets hidden in the backstreets … some places in your guidebook may... Continue Reading →